Banana Republic

May 10, 2013 2:05 PM

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July 13, 1981: A scene from the Banana Republic's 224 Grant Avenue location in San Francisco. (The first store was in Mill Valley.) Warriors owner Franklin Mieuli and Washington Square Bar & Grill co-owner Sam Deitsch are the models. Note Mieuli is wearing his 1975 NBA championship ring. less

July 13, 1981: A scene from the Banana Republic's 224 Grant Avenue location in San Francisco. (The first store was in Mill Valley.) Warriors owner Franklin Mieuli and Washington Square Bar & Grill co-owner Sam ... more

July 13, 1981: A scene from the Banana Republic's 224 Grant... Photo-4608447.62136 - San Antonio Express-News

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July 13, 1984: The front of Banana Republic in SF. The are arching elephant tusks near the front. My purchases included the Israeli paratrooper bag and the T-shirts, which had a logo and one of several safari animals -- I was partial to the rhinoceros. Would love to have one of those now ... less

July 13, 1984: The front of Banana Republic in SF. The are arching elephant tusks near the front. My purchases included the Israeli paratrooper bag and the T-shirts, which had a logo and one of several safari ... more

July 13, 1984: The front of Banana Republic in SF. The are arching... Photo-4608454.62136 - San Antonio Express-News

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July 30, 1979: This Herb Caen column is the first mention of Banana Republic that I could find in the San Francisco Chronicle archives. Caen wrote about Banana Republic in his column several times over the years. The owners Mel and Patricia Ziegler worked at the Chronicle in the 1970s. less

July 30, 1979: This Herb Caen column is the first mention of Banana Republic that I could find in the San Francisco Chronicle archives. Caen wrote about Banana Republic in his column several times over the ... more

Photo: Chronicle Archives, The Chronicle

July 30, 1979: This Herb Caen column is the first mention of Banana... Photo-4608455.62136 - San Antonio Express-News

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July 13, 1981: More of Mieuli and Deitsch, modeling clothing at the San Francisco store in front of a giraffe backdrop. I'm guessing they were about three highballs into the most entertaining fashion shoot in Union Square history. Sheepskin-lined leather aviator hat FTW. less

July 13, 1981: More of Mieuli and Deitsch, modeling clothing at the San Francisco store in front of a giraffe backdrop. I'm guessing they were about three highballs into the most entertaining fashion shoot in ... more

July 13, 1981: More of Mieuli and Deitsch, modeling clothing at... Photo-4608456.62136 - San Antonio Express-News

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July 9. 1985: A shopper peruses the safari wear inside a Banana Republic store, before the chain went upscale. This is the best "before" shot of the inside of the store I could find. After "Raiders of the Lost Ark" hit big, I remember seeing a lot more hats like the one Indiana Jones wore. less

July 9. 1985: A shopper peruses the safari wear inside a Banana Republic store, before the chain went upscale. This is the best "before" shot of the inside of the store I could find. After "Raiders of the Lost ... more

May 8, 2013: The inside of the store now. Less hats and more wrinkle-free dress shirts. I asked one of the very friendly workers if they had any safari wear. She pointed me to a fedora that was more Season 2 "Mad Men." Some beige socks were the closest thing I could find to the old BR. less

May 8, 2013: The inside of the store now. Less hats and more wrinkle-free dress shirts. I asked one of the very friendly workers if they had any safari wear. She pointed me to a fedora that was more Season 2 ... more

May 8, 2013: The inside of the store now. Less hats and more... Photo-4608458.62136 - San Antonio Express-News

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Jan. 24, 1989: A Banana Republic storefront, shortly before it abandoned the safari theme. This is my "before" shot, although I failed in my attempt to find a storefront with a jeep bursting through. If someone has a photo that they have legal rights to pass on, please send it my way ... less

Jan. 24, 1989: A Banana Republic storefront, shortly before it abandoned the safari theme. This is my "before" shot, although I failed in my attempt to find a storefront with a jeep bursting through. If someone ... more

May 8, 2013: The Banana Republic store at the Westfield mall, taken by me earlier this week. The average age of the employee here was maybe 27. I'm wondering if a single one of them even knows that this place used to sell six-pocket vests bought as surplus from the British military. less

May 8, 2013: The Banana Republic store at the Westfield mall, taken by me earlier this week. The average age of the employee here was maybe 27. I'm wondering if a single one of them even knows that this place ... more

Summer 1984: One of the Banana Republic catalogues during the safari years. Patricia Ziegler was an illustrator for the Chronicle and Mel Ziegler was a reporter. They carried on their respective roles with the catalogue. See the post for a recent photo of the Zieglers recreating this drawing. less

Summer 1984: One of the Banana Republic catalogues during the safari years. Patricia Ziegler was an illustrator for the Chronicle and Mel Ziegler was a reporter. They carried on their respective roles with the ... more

Summer 1984: One of the Banana Republic catalogues during the... Photo-4608461.62136 - San Antonio Express-News

March 13, 1987: Banana Republic founder Mel Ziegler with The Gap founder Donald Fisher. As you can read in their book, the relationship between the Zieglers and the people who ran The Gap didn't stay cordial for long. The Zieglers have started other businesses, and still live in the Bay Area. less

March 13, 1987: Banana Republic founder Mel Ziegler with The Gap founder Donald Fisher. As you can read in their book, the relationship between the Zieglers and the people who ran The Gap didn't stay cordial ... more

July 13, 1981: Four highballs in ... . I like this camera angle, because you can see the palm fronds, netting, gratuitous boomarang and a little bit of a wooden bridge built in the middle of the floor -- one of the cool Indiana Jones-style touches that were common at Banana Republic. less

July 13, 1981: Four highballs in ... . I like this camera angle, because you can see the palm fronds, netting, gratuitous boomarang and a little bit of a wooden bridge built in the middle of the floor -- one of ... more

July 13, 1981: Four highballs in ... . I like this camera angle,... Photo-4608469.62136 - San Antonio Express-News

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July 13, 1981: One more photo of Franklin Mieuli, who I like more and more with each trip to the Chronicle photo morgue. He was an incredible Bay Area character who liked to hang out with the fans and made the most of every day. RIP Franklin Mieuli. less

July 13, 1981: One more photo of Franklin Mieuli, who I like more and more with each trip to the Chronicle photo morgue. He was an incredible Bay Area character who liked to hang out with the fans and made the ... more

July 13, 1981: One more photo of Franklin Mieuli, who I like more... Photo-4608470.62136 - San Antonio Express-News